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How TikTok uses your email and phone number • How to set up 2-step verification • How to control whether TikTok can suggest your account to others using your phone contacts • How to control whether TikTok can suggest accounts to you using your phone contacts
How TikTok uses your email and phone number
Adding your email or mobile phone number to your TikTok account helps improve your experience on our platform. We may use your email or phone number to:
• Help you log in to your TikTok account. If you forget your username, email, phone number, or the other login method you used to log in to TikTok, you can look up all your login methods by entering the email address or phone number associated with your account on the account recovery screen. If you forget your password, you can also use your email or phone number to reset your password.
• Strengthen your account security with two-step verification.
• Connect you with people you may know.
• Autofill your information when completing a form.
• Improve the ad experience for you and others. We may match your contact information with information we get from Advertising, Measurement, and Data Partners, such as when you make a purchase after seeing an ad on TikTok. This helps us show you personalized ads based on off-TikTok activity, depending on your settings, and improve our ad services for everyone within the TikTok community. Learn more about ads and your data in our Privacy Center.
• Send you trending content, newsletters, promotions, recommendations, and account updates.
• Send you order updates, logistics updates, and refund status if TikTok Shop is available in your country.
A few things to know about your email and phone number on TikTok:
• Your email and mobile phone number aren't visible on your TikTok profile. You can change or remove your email or phone number at any time once you provide an alternative method of logging in to your account.
• We may receive your email information if you choose to sync Facebook friends.
• You can manage how we suggest your account to others, sync contacts, and more in your privacy settings.
• We don't sell your personal information, including your email or mobile phone number, to anyone. Learn more about how TikTok uses your email and phone number in our Privacy Policy.
How to set up 2-step verification
You can set up 2-step verification (2SV) using your email, phone number, and other methods. We strongly recommend turning on 2SV to further protect your account. This common account security feature adds an extra layer of protection to help us verify it's you if you log in from an unrecognized device. 2SV also provides an added layer of security to your account in case your password is compromised. Many people only have one password to protect their account, but with 2SV, if someone obtains your password, they'll still need access to your phone or email address when attempting to log in to your account.
To turn on 2-step verification:
1. Check that you have the latest version of TikTok downloaded on your device.
2. In the TikTok app, tap Profile at the bottom.
3. Tap the Menu ☰ button at the top, then select Settings and privacy.
4. Tap Security & permissions.
5. Tap 2-step verification.
6. Select at least two verification methods, then follow the steps to turn 2SV on:
༚ Phone (recommended)
༚ Email (recommended)
༚ Authenticator (recommended). You'll need an authenticator app such as Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator installed on your device to use this option. Follow the instructions provided on the next screen to scan the QR code or copy the key provided. Enter the key on the authenticator app when you add an account for TikTok. Finally, enter the code provided by the authenticator app on the next screen in the TikTok app.
༚ Password
7. If you choose Phone or Email:
༚ You'll be prompted to enter an email address or phone number if you haven't previously entered your contact information. Standard SMS fees may apply.
༚ Tap Send code, then enter the verification code sent to you via SMS or email.
The next time you log in to TikTok, you'll be prompted to enter a verification code, which will be sent to your phone number, email, or can be found on your authenticator app, depending on the verification methods you selected. Enter the code into the 2SV prompt on your screen to confirm your identity.
How to control whether TikTok can suggest your account to your phone contacts
Your account may be suggested to others on TikTok if:
• You've added your phone number to your TikTok account.
• You turned on the Contacts setting in the Suggest your account to others privacy setting.
• The person we're suggesting your account to has chosen to sync their phone contacts to TikTok and your phone number is in their contacts.
Learn more about how your phone number is used to suggest your account to others.
To review and change your Contacts setting:
1. In the TikTok app, tap Profile at the bottom.
2. Tap the Menu ☰ button at the top, then select Settings and privacy.
3. Tap Privacy.
4. Tap Suggest your account to others.
5. Turn the Contacts setting on or off.
How to control whether TikTok can suggest accounts to you using your phone contacts
We can help you find and follow people you may know if you've added your phone number to your TikTok account and your phone contacts are synced. You can stop syncing at any time and remove any previously synced data from TikTok.
To review and change your Sync Contacts setting:
1. In the TikTok app, tap Profile at the bottom.
2. Tap the Menu ☰ button at the top, then select Settings and privacy.
3. Tap Privacy.
4. Tap Sync contacts and Facebook friends.
5. Turn the Sync contacts setting on or off. You can also remove previously synced data.